Post by Schmidt on Nov 10, 2014 12:44:43 GMT -8

Hey guys,

Brickfair VA is almost here! And by almost here I mean 9 months away. We should start planning. It would be cool to have a general idea of what everything is going to look like by Christmas. That way, we can get to building plenty of time out and really prepare for something special!

Joshua mentioned he was not interested in heading another collab this year, so I will take on the leadership role.

We would love to have lots of participation in this years collab.

Date of Brickfair VA 2015 is:

July 29 - August 2

Let us know if you are interested in joining the collab this year, and lets get some ideas rolling!

Post by Schmidt on Nov 10, 2014 12:46:36 GMT -8

Last year our size was 6x8. The general consensus was that it was too deep.

My proposal is that we reduce the 6 to a 5.

Doing so would help us tremendously"

- the deeper the build, the harder to see everything in the back. This would make it easier to view

- this would free up baseplates to use to make it longer and "appear" bigger

- elongating the build would allow for more people to work at one time, as it would give more workspace

Additionally, I continue to recommend a sea battle to be present as well, without taking up the current baseplates. The sea battle will be very cheap and cost effective, as it would mostly be blue baseplates (we could use pips if we wanted to). So there would be relatively little money and time invested on this. All we have to do is lay these out and put a connecting plate on them.

- it could increase the size of the build drastically (and we know how the uneducated, unwashed mobs love BIGGER )

Last year, we built 48 modules. This proposal, would essentially have us building only 47 modules, as the water modules have little to no building involved in them.

Additionally, we would have 10 modules reserves for the city, with another 5 or so for the city wall. That leaves us with 15 modules with technical building. You then have a big open plains where the figs are fighting on the ground.

This proposal:

- allows us to recycle all the dark tan we bought (I spent over $200! )

Post by AK_Brickster on Nov 10, 2014 13:22:51 GMT -8

If you guys can get ahold of a few thousand dark trans blue "pips", you could build a trans dark blue border to contain them and then just pour them in to make the water, which I think would look really cool. Way better than just plain base plates. Not sure if those are available on a PaB wall anywhere still.

Looking forward to seeing what you guys come up with. Someday when I'm rich, I'll come join you guys over there for a convention

Post by Drakkvonlego on Nov 10, 2014 15:00:41 GMT -8

Sounds like a great idea! My one comment would be to designate some more structures (town? lighthouse? Fortress?) I feel like that would give you guys more of a chance of taking first place! If I was in charge of giving the award you would have won it already, the massive armies of figures are where its at. Also -- sign me up!

Post by SpearralSquid on Nov 10, 2014 15:15:38 GMT -8

Man, wish I could go, but I don't know how up to driving me to something like this my folks would be. In a couple years I'll have my license and be able to come Anyway, I personally always prefer lots of trans black/trans dark blue thinks poured in instead of blue baseplate. I dunno, blue baseplate with a single plate just looks very plain and thrown together. IMO, the trans dark blue(I found TDB 1x1 cones at PAB, those work too) gives a bigger "wow factor". Just my thoughts, if y'all don't want to spend that much money on it, go for the baseplates, unless you already have a bunch of TDB studs.

"Whenever I'm about to do something, I think: 'Would an idiot do that?' and if they would, I do not do that thing." -Dwight Schrute

Post by crazycrownieguy on Nov 10, 2014 16:29:06 GMT -8

So I won't be able to make it to the con (live to far away), but I would like to contribute, would it be possible for me to ship a module or maybe a ship or two, to one of the guys in the collab? Oh and on the whole water issue, maybe you guys should use the light blue gems? They are on the wall right now, and look great for water.

Post by SpearralSquid on Nov 10, 2014 18:03:12 GMT -8

So I won't be able to make it to the con (live to far away), but I would like to contribute, would it be possible for me to ship a module or maybe a ship or two, to one of the guys in the collab? Oh and on the whole water issue, maybe you guys should use the light blue gems? They are on the wall right now, and look great for water.

I personally am not a fan of light blue water, you usually only find that in swimming pools, volcanic lakes, and Spanish coasts. Go dark blue or black, I would say. But I totally agree with your other proposal, if it's ok with Schmidt, I would love to be able to contribute to this by mailing a module to you guys when the time comes next year. As of now my collection isn't large enough to be able to sustain building while something is temporarily mailed away, but that may change by next year. So maybe you could assign me something that doesn't have a bunch of huge structures. It would be mailed back to me after the collaboration is done, right?

"Whenever I'm about to do something, I think: 'Would an idiot do that?' and if they would, I do not do that thing." -Dwight Schrute

Post by SpearralSquid on Nov 10, 2014 19:14:13 GMT -8

Sorry to double post, but something has come up. There a very slim chance, but still a chance, that I may be able to attend and help out with the collab. I realized BFVA is right around the time of my birthday, so I may be able to ask my dad to take me for it. We'll see. Otherwise, I may just mail in a module as previously stated.

"Whenever I'm about to do something, I think: 'Would an idiot do that?' and if they would, I do not do that thing." -Dwight Schrute

Post by Lord Mercat on Nov 12, 2014 13:57:56 GMT -8

I am definitely in. The Emerald Wolves will once again take to the fields of battle for Brickfair VA, along with my Loreesi elves, Garhims, and regular Lenfel troops. So, I can commit-approx 200 troops to this cause. Not sure how many baseplates at this time, but I can definately bring more than a few, especially if we use dark tan, lol.

EDIT- Also, it would be absolutely boss if we could do a lighthouse on a rock out in in the harbor, we could do a lot with that.

Post by Zach Bean on Nov 15, 2014 14:11:51 GMT -8

Sign me up too! The one day moocher returns! Maybe this time for a bit more of an extended stay, but we'll see.

Definitely digging the harbor battle idea. I have since it was mention back in August actually.

I agree with the mass opinion that trans-dark blue studs/ trans-light blue gems/ trans-clear studs/ etc. etc. will look awesome for water. I say we ( And by 'we' I mean you guys and me just showing impressed hehehe ) just build a plain black border around the front of the collab like last year, pour in what-have-you for the water and call it a day.